"Lifters, welcome home. We are truly excited to have you back at St. Stanislaus and in Bay St Louis, Mississippi. This place has a great deal of history not only to our organization but to myself personally.
It is truly an honor to have everyone back here for Men's Teen, Junior and Open Nationals at the very birthplace of the ADFPA. To have everyone here during the 30th anniversary of our organization is truly awesome. We can't wait to have you in the Bay"
Jim Battenfield
State Chair
USA Powerlifting of Mississippi
2011 Mens Open, Junior & Teenage Nationals
Championship Director
Jim Battenfield is about as genuine a powerlifting fan as you will find. As the USA Powerlifting State Chair of Mississippi, Jim literally lives it and breaths it.
Jim was born October 20 1983 in Flowood, MS. and lifted at Pearl High on a State Champion powerlifting team. Once that was over he got the coaching bug and came back the next 4 years as an assistant to 4 more state champion teams.
During the last run, Jim started putting together the Mississippi Powerlifting Club. It was done in an effort to have guys from his state continue lifting past high school, and in the first year he landed big names such as Chris Tran, Knute Douglas and Justin Walker. All have went on to win National Titles and compete on the World level.
Jim has been fortunate enough to coach some great lifters at the State and National level, but he quickly acknowledges that he has a lot of help along the way in doing so. Just a few would include Erik Stensaas and Jeff Douglas, who have always been there when he has needed them. Pete and Derek from Titan have been absolutely great to Jim as well.
Jim is also very lucky to have such great support from everyone including his fiance Katie, who drives the team all over the country, (Editor's note: She only lets Jim drive if it's absolutely necessary.) Jim has 3 wonderful step-daughters-to be, who also willingly pitch in on small tasks.
Jim first stepped in as the Mississippi State Chair in 2008, and in such a short time he has not only brought his state back to life, he has also been awarded the 2011 Mens Open, Junior and Teenage Nationals. We are proud to have Jim as our USAPL Mississippi State Chair and Director for the Summer's hottest powerlifting event.
